No. 2 Irish roll past Georgia Tech women

Sometimes the Notre Dame sophomore got behind the defenders, and other times she drove past them for layups.

She finished with 27 points and nine rebounds to lead the second-ranked Fighting Irish to an 87-72 victory over Georgia Tech on Monday night in a game in which Notre Dame’s upper classmen struggled after being honored on senior night.

“I think next year we’re going to have senior night the first day of classes, Aug. 27,” said Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, who tied former Virginia coach Debbie Ryan (739-324) for 10th in career victories. “I feel like every year it’s the same thing with the emotion of the moment.”

Loyd said she just stuck to the game plan.

“Just cutting to the middle, attacking when we could off the press, just trying to make open shots,” she said.

Loyd scored seven straight at the end of the first half, capped by an alley-oop layup, then had back-to-back layups early in the second half to give the Irish a 16-point lead that was extended to 22.

Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph described Loyd as relentless.

“She gets it done, and you don’t even know she’s getting it done,” she said. “The thing I like about her game is how hard she plays.”

Joseph was pleased by her team’s hustle, but disappointed by the Yellow Jackets’ shooting touch.

“When we shoot 31 percent from the field it’s tough for us to win games, especially against a team as good as Notre Dame,” she said.

The Irish honored their seniors on Monday even though they still have home games left against Duke and North Carolina. The senior class of Natalie Achonwa, Kayla McBride, and Ariel Braker improved their four-year record at Notre Dame to 125-14.

The school record for wins by a senior class was set last season by Skylar Diggins and her classmates with a mark of 130-20.

They avoided their first consecutive losses since 2007-08 and dodged their first three-game home slide in more than two decades by shooting 53 percent and outrebounding one of the nation’s top teams on the boards 44-37.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Roy Williams earned his 300th win at North Carolina with a win against Florida State as the Tar Heels rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit to record their seventh consecutive victory.

North Carolina (18-7, 8-4 ACC) freshman Kennedy Meeks scored a career-high 23 points while Marcus Paige chipped in 20. James Michael McAdoo, who had scored double figures in 17 consecutive games, fouled out without a point.

Florida State (15-11, 6-8) switched up the starting lineup with its NCAA Tournament chances dwindling after losing 6 of 9. Ian Miller made his first start of the season and led the Seminoles with 22 points. His hot shooting out of the gate helped give Florida State a 21-6 lead. Montay Brandon finished with 18 points and Aaron Thomas added 16.